A jury that decides whether the criminal defendant should stand trial.

PETIT JURY-

A jury that determines guilt or innocent.

STATUE OF LIMITATION-

A law that limits the amount of time that a plaintiff can commence a case

ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE-

A clause in the 1st amendment prohibiting the government from establishing a religion as the official religion of the US or favoring a particular religion.

FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE-

A clause in the 1st amendment prohibiting the government from interfering in people's religious practices.

JEFFERSON LETTER TO THE DANBURY BAPTIST-

A letter in which President Jefferson first used the term separation of "church & state"

ENDORSEMENT TEST-

A test use by the court in establishment clause cases. This test bars any governmental policy that sends a signal that religion is favored, thus making some people feel as outsiders and others as insiders

COERCION TEST-

a test used by the court in establishment clause cases. This test bars any government policy that coerces any one to participate in any religious exercise.

LEMON TEST (3 PART)-

A test used by the court in establishment clause cases. A governmental policy violates the establishment clause if any of the following 3 prongs are violated:

The government actions must have a secular purpose

The governments action must neither advance nor inhibit religion.

The governments action must not result in an "excessive government entanglement with religion"

AGOSTINI TEST (2 PARTS)-

A modification of the lemon test pursuant to which the court makes a 2 pronged inquiry to determine whether the establishment clause has been violated by governmental action: (1) whether the governmental action has a secular purpose (2) whether it advances religion.

PRIVACY-

The right to be left alone.

UNDUE BURDEN TEST (Abortion cases)-

a test used by the courts in abortion cases pursuant to which the court invalidates a provision of law if it places a substantial obstacle In the path of a woman seeking an abortion before the effects attains viability.

SEPERATIONISM-

A philosophy that the establishment clause prevents any government support of religion.

ACCOMODATIONISM-

A philosophy that the establishment clause permits the governments support of religion as long as the government treats all religions equally.

EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE-

Clause in the 14th amendment that required that state laws treat all people equally.

RATIONAL BASIS TEST-

the justices ask whether the classification is rationally related to a permissible governmental objective.

STRICT SCRUTINY TEST-

“The justices ask whether the classification is necessarily related to compelling government interest."

COMPELLING STATE INTEREST-

A governmental interest which is so important that it outweighs individual rights.

A SUSPECT CLASS-

A class of people that has historically suffered severe discrimination, eg. classes based on race, national origin and religion.

CIVIL WAR AMENDMENTS-

three amendments passed soon after the civil war that protected the civil rights of the former slaves: 13th amendment (freed the slaves), 14th amendment (gave citizenship to the former slaves). And the 15th amendment (gave the right to vote to former slaves).

JIM CROW LAWS-

laws passed by the southern states after the civil war pursuant to which public facilities would be "separate but equal"

DEJURE SEGREGATION-

Racial segregation enforced by law.

DE FACTO SEGREGATION-

racial segregation that results from decisions made by society.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION-

The process of giving advantages to ethnic minorities in employment decisions and university admissions.